Hernia belt construction



Olct. 24, 1950 l.. zARAs HERNIA BELT CONSTRUCTION Filed June 13, 1947 JNVENToR. LOU/J ZAQAS BY a e' MRA/gy Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE HERNIA BELT CONSTRUCTION lLouis Zaras, New York, N.KY. Application June 13, 1947,1sria1 No. 754,344 ,p

Claims v(Cl. 12s- 100)v This invention relates to a hernia belt construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a casing for the padding material which permits the extension of a soft leather covering over the rear of a plate so that it can be sewed tothe front covering without interference of the metal supporting plate, the connecting straps extending into the closed converings for attachment with the metal plate by the means of a ribbon or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means on the padding which'can elect an enlargement on the normal shape of the lsame whereby to give more pressure to a more desired location within the hernia area.

Other objects of the present invention are t provide a hernia belt which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and eflicient in operation.

According to the invention, the horizontal and vertically extending straps are permanently attached to the plate interiorly of the leather covering surrounding the plate and the padding. The leather covering is made in two parts, one part being in front of the padding and another part adapted to extend over the rear of the plate and adapted to be sewed to the periphery of the front leather covering piece.

According to one modified form, there is provided a pocket on the front leather coveringinto which padding material :can be extended to provide a projection on the front covering to better enter the hernia area.

According to a still further form of the invention, the padding is in the form of an airfilled tube or container and the button on the back of the construction to which the free end of the horizontal strap is connected serves as va handle means for a slidable element Within the leather covering adapted to be moved to different positions within the covering whereby to project the front piece of the covering at different locations therealong. For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled hernia belt embodying certainfeatures of the present invention.

Fig. 2 isa transverse cross sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

'Fig'. 3 is a perspective'view of the inner reinforcing plate. l

' Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of construction wherein a pocket is provided on the front covering piece into which padding material can be extended to provide added material to give added support to the belt.

Fig. 5 isa transverse cross sectional view taken online 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig` 6 isav cross sectional View similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a still further modied form of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a modified form of reinforcing plate which is used in connection with theconstruction shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on line 8-3 of Fig. 6.

The hernia belt, according to the first form of the invention shown in Figs.. 1 to 3, includes a reinforcing plate I5 on the front of which there is provided arubber packing material I6. Over the packing I6, there is extended a front leather covering piece I'I of larger area than the reinforcing plate I5, such covering piece being adapted to extend beyond the peripheral sides of the reinforcing plate so as to be stitched readily to a rear leather covering piece I8. A horizontal strap I9 is extended through the top end of the covering pieces for engagement by means of a rivet 2|, see Fig. 2, with the metal reinforcing plate I5. The leather covering preferably extends over the rivet on the rear of the reinforcing piece and a small gap is allowed in the stitchingof the pieces to permit the strap I9 to extend outwardly of the leatherV covering pieces. If desired, the stitching can extend across the strap I 9.

A vertical strap 22 is similarly connected to the lower end of the reinforcing plate I5. This strap extends through the periphery of th'e joined leather covering pieces and is connected by a rivetl 23, see Fig. 2, to the lower end of the reinforcing plate I5. A single stitchingI can be effected about the periphery of the front and rear leather covering pieces. The leather covering can be turned inwardly at its periphery, as indicated at 24, if desired.

Projecting from the rear of the rear leather piece I8 is a pin 25 which may be extended into the reinforcing plate if desired, or as show`n, merely into the rear leather covering piece as by means of a grommet connection therewith. The horizontal strap I 9 has a connecting buckle or slotted plate element 26 adaptedto be tted over the projection 25. The plate 26 is adjustable on the strap in order that the belt can be adapted to different size persons.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown on the exterior of the front leather covering piece a pocket arrangement 3| into which can be inserted extra padding material 32 through an opening- 33. This material can be shifted about within the pocket in order to properly locate it where it can have the maximum lifting effect. The pocket is stitched to the front covering piece I1, as indicated at 34.

Referring now to Figs. 6, '1 and 8, there is shown a modified form of packing comprisingran air sack 36 formed of rubber so as to be flexible and so that it may be expanded Within the leather covering and between a reinforcing plate. 31 and front leather piece l1. shape of the front cover piece and to provide added padding eiect onra more centralized location of the hernia area and so that the pad in general can be more comfortably applied, there is provided a member 39 having a rounded top 4| which engages against the exterior of the air sack` 36 so as to cause a bulge on the front leather piece I 1. In order that this bulge can be changed in `location vertically on the pad, reinforcing plate 31 is provided with an elongated slot 42. Through this slot, there is extended an adjusting screw 43 having flanges 44 and 45 engaging with opposite sides of the reinforcing metal plate 31. This adjusting screw 43 is in threaded engagement with the member 39 and will causek the member 39 to be extended to a greater or lesser amount from the inner face of the reinforcing plate 31. Also, the adjusting screw with the mem-l ber 39 can be worked up and down in the elongated slot 42. With the member 39 adjusted, there will be sufiicient pressure acting through flange 45 upon the'inner face of plate 31 to frictionally retain the same in its adjusted position in the slot 42.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A hernia pad construction comprising a reinforcing metal plate, straps connected to the opposite ends of the reinforcing plate, padding material on the inner face of the reinforcing plate, a leather covering comprising a front piece extending over the padding material and a rear piece extending over the rear face of the reinforcing plate, said pieces being sewed together throughout their peripheral extent and free of the reinforcing plate, means on the rear leather piece to which a strap may be connected upon adapting the hernia pad construction to the body of the wearer, and internal element within'the leather covering connected to the reinforcing plate for adjustment relative thereto whereby to provide a bulge on the front cover piece, said internal member extending through the reinforcing plate to provide a projection from the rearof the'hernia pad construction, said reinforcing plate having an opening for receiving said projection, said opening being elongated whereby to permit the threadable adjustment of the member within-the covering.

In order to change the threaded portion of the member 2. A hernia pad construction comprising a reinforcing plate with an elongated slot therein, a flexible covering extending about the reinforcing plate including front and rear covering pieces, an air sack, a member adapted to be projected into the exterior of the air sack to cause a bulge in the front covering piece, an adjustable screw extending between the member and the reinforcing piece, said member having a threaded recess therein, said adjusting screw having flanges extending on opposite sides of the reinforcing plate, said adjusting screw workable in the whereby to extend thesame to greater or less distance from the reinforcing plate, said anges holding and adjusting screw against axial displacement, and a projection extending to the exterior of the construction by which the adjusting screw can be turned.

3. A hernia pad construction comprising a reinforcing plate with an elongated slot therein, a flexible covering extending about the reinforcing plate including front and rear covering pieces, an air sack, a member adapted to be projected into the exterior of the air sack to cause a bulge in the front covering piece, an adjustable screw extending between the member and the reinforcing piece, said member having a threaded recess therein, said adjusting screw having anges ex-l tending on opposite sides of the reinforcing plate, said adjusting screw workable in the threaded portionof the member whereby to extend the same to greater or less distance from the reinforcing plate, said flanges holding the adjusting screw against axial displacement, and a projection extending to the exterior of the construction by which the adjusting screw can be turned, said reinforcing plate having an elongated slot through which the adjusting screw can be adjusted whereby to locate the member at different locations throughout the length of the front covering piece. y

4. In a hernia belt, a pad comprising a reinforcing plate, paddingmaterial on the front face of said plate, a flexible cover retaining said padding material in position on said plate, a mem--l ber disposed between said plate and said padding material and having a threaded recess facing said plate, an adjustment screw having one end threaded into said recess so that said member may be held in various extended positions relative to said screw for forming a bulge on the front face of the pad, said plate being formed with an elongated slot, and means on the other end of said screw slidably and rotatively engaging said slot, whereby said screw and said member can be adjusted along the length of said slot after which said screw can be rotated for extending said mem ber for causing the bulge to be formed at a desired area on the front face of the pad.

LOUIS ZARAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

